Apparatus, system and method of securing perimeters of security zones from suspect vehicles

Abstract

An apparatus, system and method of identifying a vehicle that may present safety threats to security areas are provided. When a vehicle is approaching a security zone, a request for identification (ID) is issued to the vehicle's on-board computer system (OBCS). Upon receiving the ID, a comparison is made between the ID of the vehicle and a list of suspect vehicle IDs. It there is a match, the vehicle is considered to be suspect and the OBCS is instructed to take control over the vehicle.

1. A method of determining whether a vehicle is a suspect vehicle when the vehicle approaches a security zone comprising the steps of:
 requesting an identification (ID) from an on-board computer system (OBCS) in the vehicle; 
 comparing, upon receiving the ID from the vehicle, the ID from the vehicle to IDs in a list of IDs; 
 determining that the vehicle is a suspect vehicle if there is a match between the ID from the vehicle and one from the list of IDs; and 
 having the OBCS take control of the vehicle if the vehicle is determined to be a suspect vehicle. 
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1  wherein if the vehicle is a suspect vehicle, the OBCS does not allowe the vehicle to proceed forward. 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 2  wherein if the suspect vehicle is a land-based vehicle and it is proceeding forward, a signal is sent to the OBCS to stop the vehicle from proceeding forward. 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 3  wherein if the suspect vehicle is not a land-based vehicle, the signal is used to instruct the OBCS to veer the suspect vehicle off its course. 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 4  wherein before the suspect vehicle is veered off its course, the operator is given an opportunity to alter the course of the vehicle. 
   
   
     6. The method of  claim 5  wherein if the suspect vehicle is a land-based vehicle, the vehicle is allowed to proceed forward after it has been thoroughly searched. 
   
   
     7. The method of  claim 1  wherein the vehicle is determined to be a suspect vehicle if there is not a match between the ID from the vehicle and one of the IDs from the list of IDs. 
   
   
     8. A computer program product on a computer readable medium for determining whether a vehicle is a suspect vehicle when the vehicle approaches a security zone comprising:
 code means for requesting an identification (ID) from an on-board computer system (OBCS) in the vehicle; 
 code means for comparing, upon receiving the ID from the vehicle, the ID from the vehicle to IDs in a list of IDs; 
 code means for determining that the vehicle is a suspect vehicle if there is a match between the ID from the vehicle and one from the list of IDs; and 
 code means in the vehicle for having the OBCS take control of the vehicle if the vehicle is determined to be a suspect vehicle. 
 
   
   
     9. The computer program product of  claim 8  wherein if the vehicle is a suspect vehicle, the vehicle is not allowed to proceed forward. 
   
   
     10. The computer program product of  claim 9  wherein if the suspect vehicle is a land-based vehicle and it is proceeding forward, a signal is sent to the OBCS to stop the vehicle from proceeding forward. 
   
   
     11. The computer program product of  claim 10  wherein if the suspect vehicle is not a land-based vehicle, the signal is used to instruct the OBCS to veer the suspect vehicle off its course. 
   
   
     12. The computer program product of  claim 11  wherein before the suspect vehicle is veered off its course, the operator is given an opportunity to alter the course of the vehicle. 
   
   
     13. The computer program product of  claim 12  wherein if the suspect vehicle is a land-based vehicle, the vehicle is allowed to proceed forward after it has been thoroughly searched. 
   
   
     14. The computer program product of  claim 8  wherein the vehicle is determined to be a suspect vehicle if there is not a match between the ID from the vehicle and one of the IDs from the list of IDs. 
   
   
     15. A system for determining whether a vehicle is a suspect vehicle when the vehicle approaches a security zone comprising:
 at least one storage device for storing code data; and 
 at least one processor for processing the code data to request an identification (ID) from an on-board computer system (OBCS) in the vehicle, to compare, upon receiving the ID from the vehicle, the ID from the vehicle to IDs in a list of IDs, to determine that the vehicle is a suspect vehicle if there is a match between the ID from the vehicle and one from the list of IDs and to have the OBCS take control of the vehicle if the vehicle is determined to be a suspect vehicle. 
 
   
   
     16. The system of  claim 15  wherein if the vehicle is a suspect vehicle, the vehicle is not allowed to proceed forward. 
   
   
     17. The system of  claim 16  wherein if the suspect vehicle is a land-based vehicle and it is proceeding forward, a signal is sent to the OBCS to stop the vehicle from proceeding forward. 
   
   
     18. The system of  claim 17  wherein if the suspect vehicle is not a land-based vehicle, the signal is used to instruct the OBCS to veer the suspect vehicle off its course. 
   
   
     19. The system of  claim 18  wherein before the suspect vehicle is veered off its course, the operator is given an opportunity to alter the course of the vehicle. 
   
   
     20. The system of  claim 19  wherein if the suspect vehicle is a land-based vehicle, the vehicle is allowed to proceed forward after it has been thoroughly searched.